Small town sheriff

[Kansas Bound]

If I am having trouble with a small town sheriff, who is he responsible to. Someone stole my guns and smashed my windows on my vehicle. I know who it was and the person is related to the sheriff but the sheriff does nothing about it. Last time it happened all he did was go get the guns back even though I wanted to press charges. What should I do this time?

 

[308win]

Call the State Police. I would call the state headquarters and not the nearest post as you don't know who is tied to whom. Be prepared for some fallout.

 

[brighamr]

Get a lawyer. Have your lawyer contact state authorities with "legal speak".

 

[wideym]

Try running against him in the next election. Use a platform of honesty and reform. If he has a scumbag relative he's covering for you won't be the only victim.

 

[mekender]

contact an attorney from the nearest major city... like KC or something... sounds like you have a LEO that is involved in conspiracy to deprive you of property... might be time for civil actions as well as reports with the state police

 

[Black Knight]

You may want to contact the state attorney general's office and file a formal complaint. You may also check with the U.S. Attorney's office. They love to go after locals who refuse to do their duty or abuse their authority. No matter what you do expect the road to get very bumpy for awhile. Those under investigation from higher authorities have various ways of retaliating.

 

[Kansas Bound]

Thanks for all the help.

 

[TallPine]

Yore in a heap a' trouble, boy!

 

[Cougfan2]

If you do go after this guy, I concur with the others posts that you will be in for some retaliation. Record all phone calls both incoming and outgoing. You might also invest in a small digital recorder that will fit in a coat or shirt pocket. You might also want to contact the KBI. Document everything!

 

[Geno]

I am not convinced that the state police will do anything...the brotherhood and all. If what you are saying is accurate, I suggest the State AG, and nail the situation but good!!

 

[308win]

Here in Ohio, the various law enforcement agencies don't seem to have any hesitation to write each other up for DUI and other violations. I would give the State Police or the State's Criminal Bureau of Investigation a call.

 

[jaholder1971]

Forget the Attorney General's office here in Kansas.

Paul Morrison has resigned due to a sex scandal intertwined with serious professional misconduct against a District Attorney who used to hold the AG job.

No one in Kansas state government leadership right now is pro-RKBA except for a hardcore conservative Legislature and Senate.

 

[Regolith]

A local sheriff here was busted by the Nevada's version of the FBI (can't remember what the hell they call themselves) a few years back for embezzling something like $40,000 from the county.

Couple of years later they got involved again when the new sheriff's daughter was caught with drugs and charged with intent to sell.

At least around here, the state guys have absolutely no trouble getting involved when it comes to the locals.

Try hitting up both the state police AND the AG. One of them is likely to do something about it, if your case is any good.

 

[Gunnerpalace]

If you cant get your guns back then it's time to call in the heavy support,
the ATF

 

[boalex207]

Kansas has a Highway Patrol, rather than a full spectrum State Police, so that probably is not the best route.

I think I'd try the State Attorney General, or, if you feel strongly enough, the FBI.

Not familiar with Kansas law: is there a procedure in place for recall or ouster of local elected officials ? or is the guy in officer until defeated at the polls ?

 

[Deavis]

Police would never do that, just ask the Mods here who are LEOs.

Wow, there are bad apples in every community, I'm so shocked. Why, heck, just the other day a prominent person in a large multi-national company got fired for expensing questionable items in a company that I happen to work for. Forget the thousands of other employees who never did anything wrong, that one person must be indicitive of the entire company as a whole. No kidding, you mean LEOs have problems too? Wow, it is a shame that an overwhelming majority of incidents not involving the tinfoil crowd are lawful and uneventful. It must be because they employee, gasp, human beings.

Call a lawyer and settle it.

 

[theP8riot]

I believe that stealing firearms is a federal offense. Or maybe it is be in possession of stolen firearms. Whatever it is I would call the FBI or ATF. I bet you could get some attention, although you may not end up wanting it.

 

[NASCAR_MAN]

Kansas Bound
If I am having trouble with a small town sheriff....
==========================================

If you should choose to confront the situation by contacting a higher authority than the Sheriff, then I suggest you also put on distribution a letter to every local newspaper, news service, law-enforcement agency, political activist and mayor within a 50-mile radiius - and including this Sheriff, especially. And let the Sheriff know you have conacted these entities.

If this situation does not remain totally illuminated, then you place yourself in harm's way - for this Sheriff is not within the law.

Furthermore, always carry a voice recorder and video recorder everywhere you go - and let the people I've mentioned know that you are doing so.

 

[Frog48]

If I am having trouble with a small town sheriff, who is he responsible to.

Depends upon the method in which the sheriff is hired/employed.

In most states, the county sheriff is elected, and as such can only be removed from office by impeachment and/or recall.

In some states, the sheriff is hired and fired by the county commisioner's court, analogous to a municipal police chief's accountability to the mayor and city council.

 

[Roccobro]

There is a board of supervisors that overseas most county to sheriff's department spending. They are the ones in the county that the sheriffs is held accountable to.

Should you decide to move higher, I'd give it one last ditch effort and have a meeting with him telling him just how far you will go and how much he has to lose for not prosecuting a common criminal. I've seen the whole family of a former sheriff being arrested for their shenanigans in my county for the last four years.

Definitely get the papers involved. If people don't know he is bod, they will vote the same next time too.

Justin

 

[Frog48]

There is a board of supervisors that overseas most county to sheriff's department spending. They are the ones in the county that the sheriffs is held accountable to.

That would be the county commissioner's court. They approve the budget for all county agencies and projects. They generally have no power to remove an elected official. They can, however, hamstring the sheriff's office by rejecting funding requests.

 

[ExtremeDooty]

If you are going to contact the AG or Highway Patrol or other agency, I wouldn't let the Sheriff or the Press know about it until after an investigation was started. If the Sheriff or thief find out about your intent, your property will disappear immediately. Your case will be a lot stronger if the thief is caught in possession of your property.

 

[dogrunner]

Being a retired CLEO I'll weigh in on this subject....Foremost, no LEO wants either bad press nor a civil action directed at him. If what you state is true I most strongly suggest you contact a GOOD attorney and have him start the ball rolling. Likely, due the fact that you are alleging official misconduct (thats what it's called here in Florida), once a formal complaint is levied you will immediately begin to see action. You may well have both a civil and CRIMINAL case against that officer and I most strongly suggest you pursue it!

If you review chapter 1983 USC, you will find that it is a violation of Federal law to deny any person any right secured them under the U.S. Constitution....a claim under that act might get you some result, and you are really upping the ante by making a Federal claim....your attorney will know how to pursue the matter.........I would NOT let the issue become stale.

Frankly, if in fact that officer is that corrupt, you have a civic duty to deal with it, that is indeed and infact precisely the sort of thing any decent prosecuting attorney would love to present to a Grand Jury.

And by the way, I most strongly urge you to ignore State specific recommendations....law and responsibilities vary from State to State in terms of who supervises whom. For example, a Californian states that the Sheriff is supervised by his County Commission (or equivelant)....that might be so there, but for example here in Florida a Sheriff is co-equal to any other elected offical in his County...he is a Constitutional Officer under state law and a County Comission CANNOT direct him in the course of his duties. Furthermore, he can appeal ANY negative budgetary action by his Commissioners to the State itself!!...

As I said, get a good attorney that knows YOUR State's laws, and that you feel confident in and do as he suggests. If you still find yourself up against a brick wall, then appeal to the U.S. Attorney's office.

 

[TallPine]

The sheriff in Petroleum County MT was stealing trailers for his own use and covering up with a false "investigation".

He did get caught and prosecuted though ... you can probably Google the details.